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After I learned to play the game at a decent level, I saw a old guy trying to play pool, it looked like he was just learning the game. I was shocked when one of the guys said, "He used to be a great player!". I decided that when I lost the ability to play I would quit, it happened just after I...

I was teasing the reader when I said I dumped my backer. I was the backer and Bill knew I would not take advantage of the "C" players. This was the best win I ever had because Joe was not a nice guy and a nit who would not hesitate to take advantage of the helpless.

Before I tell you about my match with Cuban Joe I have to tell you about the most successful $20 monthly 32 man, single elimination 9 Ball tournament from the early 1980s to the mid 1990s at the House of Billiards in Sherman Oaks California. The success was because Bill Duke handicapped the...

I apologize for not remembering the year but it happened in Los Angeles in the 1970s or early 1980s. I am not going to describe the shooting because the shooter was clearly guilty but the defense attorney was doing his best to discredit my testimony. After I described what I saw the defense...

Nolan Bushell founder of Atari said, “All the best games are easy to learn and difficult to master”. Tight pockets do the opposite, the tight pockets discourage new players. A real world example was the very successful House of Billiards in Santa Monica California. The front four Brunswick...

I bought this cue from Craig in Chicago in the 1980s. I thought I had two shafts but I can only find one shaft. Can anyone tell me if they have a similar design and if you do can you tell me when you bought it?

I think it was in the 1970s when small weekly local nine ball and eight ball tournaments became popular. One of the regulars said when he got home his wife asked, "How did you do?". He said, "I lost to the guy that won it". What he didn't tell his wife was he lost to the guy in the first...

I have a new Craig Petersen cue, I'll find it and sent a picture tomorrow.

I just noticed you are in Louisiana, I played pool at Lambert's in Baton Rouge when Flyboy was willing pay everyone that could bet at least $10k. I'm trying to contact a player named Shorty, if you know anyone that can help me please let me know.

I have an almost new It's George cue please see the picture of the shaft, it is has no dirt from chalk. If this is what you are looking for my number is two one three, two nine three 135O. Don

I just started playing pool in 1968 when the guys started talking about going to see the action in a different pool room. What surprised me was the guys said to come back at 1 AM and we would carpool out to the Billiard Palace in Bellflower California. If you know the traffic in Los Angeles...

In the late 1960s I overheard a guy ask "Machine Gun" Lou Butera for a lesson. Lou's response was, "How many hours a day do you play pool" Lou would not teach anyone unless the person said, "Four or five hours a day".

In the late 1960's Los Angeles you could buy a very good Hard Maple or Tiger Wood, a straight grain stripe, cue from Tad for $60. Tad like most cue makers at the time made a terrible plastic window cue that over time would shrink and click when you hit the cue ball. Based on the number stamped...

In an article by raider dated November 5, 2023 that states that: “The game of one-pocket was not invented until Hayden Lingo started it in Oklahoma City in 1931. Today the professional pool players consider one-pocket as the truest test of a player’s ability.” — George Jansco, 1965 While I am...

For a short time Chop Sticks attracted some of the best pool players and pool hustlers in Los Angeles. There were a lot of players but the only three names I remember were Ronnie Allen, Cokes and Harry Cohen. Harry was a hard core hustler who the guys said, "He would take money from his...

While I was talking to Gus in his workshop in the basement of his home when an old style black phone that you only see in the movies rang. Gus was very nice to the caller and ended the with, "I've started your cue". After Gus hung up he turned to me and said, "I can't stand that guy". I...

I won the first celebrity 8-Ball tournament at the Hollywood Athletic Club and the first prize was a Suzuki RF600 motorcycle. When I picked up the motorcycle, the Suzuki Corporation gave me a letter stating that they were giving me the motorcycle for free and the price on the Bill of Sale was...

For several years Fredy Whalen promoted a World Championship 14.1 Straight pool Tournament at the Elk's Lodge on Parkview Avenue just West of Downtown Los Angeles. I seem to remember they charged about $4 to watch the tournament and $1 to watch the players in the practice room. The practice room...

I would like to see it, please post a picture of it or send it to me in a conversation. Thanks!